Synopsis
A Serbian émigré in Manhattan believes that, because of an ancient curse, any physical intimacy with the man she loves will turn her into a feline predator.
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Cast
- Simone SimonIrena Dubrovna Reed
- Kent SmithOliver Reed
- Tom ConwayDr. Louis Judd
- Jane RandolphAlice Moore
- Jack HoltThe Commodore
- Henrietta BurnsideSue Ellen (uncredited)
- Alec CraigZookeeper (uncredited)
- Eddie DewStreet Policeman (uncredited)
- Elizabeth DunneMrs. Plunkett (uncredited)
- Dot FarleyMrs. Agnew (uncredited)
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
Cat People wasn't frightening like a slasher movie, using shocks and gore, but frightening in an eerie, mysterious way that was hard to define; the screen harbored unseen threats, and there was an undertone of sexual danger that was more ominous because it was never acted upon. - 100
CineVue
Where The Wolfman is a a fairgound ghost train, entertaining but ultimately shallow, Cat People is a true journey into the power of fear and belief, at once frightening, disturbing and psychologically complex. - 100
Empire
No mere creature feature, this 1940s classic offers more subtle chills. - 100
TV Guide Magazine
A haunting and subtle film, filled with desires gone awry and everyday settings turned inexplicably nightmarish. - 100
Chicago Tribune
Cat People is an admirable first entry into the brainy, elegant, spooky world of Val Lewton. [09 Sep 2005, p.C4] - 91
The A.V. Club
The horror is fueled by sexual frustration, repressed passion, and the everyday anxieties of marriage and urban life, and it plays out in a noir-lit New York filled with everyday people. No fan of gothic castles, Lewton brought horror home with Cat People. - 80
Chicago Reader
More a film about unreasoning fear than the supernatural, this work demonstrates what a filmmaker can accomplish when he substitutes taste and intelligence for special effects. - 70
Variety
This is a weird drama of thrill-chill caliber, with developments of surprises confined to psychology and mental reactions, rather than transformation to grotesque and marauding characters for visual impact on the audiences. Picture is well-made on moderate budget outlay.